Florida Families Can Prepare for College Costs Now
Posted October 25, 2012 11:45 am | Public News Service
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Beginning this month, families in Florida can enroll in the state's Prepaid College Plan, allowing them to lock in this year's plan prices to prepare for the rising cost of higher education at state schools. An added benefit: the savings towards their children's education are tax-free.
Florida Prepaid Chairman Deane Ottenstroer explains why it's something for parents to consider.
Link:
Florida Prepaid
"You buy the contract today, your newborn baby enters
college 18 years down the road, and this contract is
guaranteed to pay for their tuition."
Florida Prepaid offers several plans to accommodate
students for two- or four-year programs. The plans cover
the cost of tuition and most mandatory fees at Florida's
12 state universities and 28 colleges. The deadline for
enrollment is January 31.
According to the Project on Student Debt, two-thirds of
college seniors graduated with outstanding loans in
2010, and on average, they carried a debt of more than
$25,000 each.
Ottenstroer explains that debt can be difficult to repay
with the current employment options.
"With the way the job market is, even a college
education doesn't guarantee you a job. Prepaid tuition
allows your children to go to school without incurring
any debt, and that's extremely important."
Florida Prepaid recommends families purchase a plan the
year their child is born, but plans can be purchased as
late as 11th grade. If a student chooses to attend a
private college, or out-of-state school, the value of
the plan can be applied to any eligible educational
institution in the U.S. It can also be transferred to
another family member.
Links and Photos added by the Observer
